Rockbox Technical Forums

Support and General Use => Hardware => Topic started by: burkjavier on January 26, 2019, 09:54:24 AM

Title: Is there a general device patch for mSATA PANIC error and freezes? (Gigabeat X)
Post by: burkjavier on January 26, 2019, 09:54:24 AM
Background :  since mSATA is the cheapest option to move my Gigabeat X (or F) up to a 400GB+ storage, I've been kicking the tires with a smaller mSATA I own and a mSATA to ZIF adapter.

It does boot up and generally works, and I can compile my own booloader / rockbox builds.  But it will freeze sometimes (usually when trying to load up a large playlist) and I have seen PANIC errors at times, I think ATA errors.   

So just wondering if there's a general patch or fix I can use when compiling either my bootloader or build to reduce these problems?   Most of what I've read here so far has been related to iPod builds.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Is there a general device patch for mSATA PANIC error and freezes? (Gigabeat X)
Post by: burkjavier on January 29, 2019, 07:03:36 PM
More information (if this perhaps provides a clue).

So my issue is somewhat similar to this : http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=52495.0 in that I can boot up to RB and play songs.  Somewhat.  But adding a large playlist will freeze and letting the player run for a while playing songs it will eventually freeze.

The OF actually works fine with this mSATA setup, so I tested older RB builds and v3.4 (from late 2009) actually seems to work so far.   But 3.5 (early 2010) has the same freezing issues so something changed between those two that is relevant here.

I went through all the iPod posts but unfortunately I can't seem to figure out how to translate the PIO suggestions there into the Gigabeat.  Assuming that's a potential fix here.
Title: Re: Is there a general device patch for mSATA PANIC error and freezes? (Gigabeat X)
Post by: saratoga on January 29, 2019, 09:56:49 PM
I went through all the iPod posts but unfortunately I can't seem to figure out how to translate the PIO suggestions there into the Gigabeat.  Assuming that's a potential fix here.

They're different CPUs so they do not translate.  Limited compatibility between modern solid state devices decade plus old ATA controllers is pretty common, but likely doesn't stem from any one specific cause, so I don't think looking at unrelated hardware is going to give you much insight into your issues. 
Title: Re: Is there a general device patch for mSATA PANIC error and freezes? (Gigabeat X)
Post by: burkjavier on January 29, 2019, 10:16:31 PM

They're different CPUs so they do not translate.  Limited compatibility between modern solid state devices decade plus old ATA controllers is pretty common, but likely doesn't stem from any one specific cause, so I don't think looking at unrelated hardware is going to give you much insight into your issues.

Very true and pretty much where I'm at right now.

Btw, dropping back to RB 3.4 allowed playlists to function - but I wouldn't call it stable (plus I lose a lot of functionality this way).   I'll probably shelve the idea for now but it was an interesting test and surprised that this mSATA setup worked at all.